Kamal's ten avatars, a new world record

Chennai, Jun 12 (UNI) One of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema, Kamal Hassan, reputed for his penchant for emulating the best achievements in world cinema, is poised to create a world record.

In his latest offering 'Dasavatharam', to be released tomorrow after clearing a few unsettling legal wrangles, he is all set to regale his fans playing a record ten roles, including that of US President George Bush, who would see the film later when he is free.

In this film, with a record 1,000 prints in the history of Tamil cinema, Kamal would be surpassing the existing record of Tamil cinema's thespian of yesteryears late Sivaji Ganesan, who had played nine roles in a film in the 60s ('Navaraatri'), and Hollywood actor late Alec Guiness who had portrayed eight roles in a film in the late 40s, in 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'.

Arguably, it would have been a fitting tribute to Kamal, known for his variety in his career, if Sivaji, whom the actor considers to be his beacon light, and Alec Guiness were alive to see their feats being surpassed by an electrifying actor.

The film, which was in the making for more than two years, first faced a legal wrangle over the title 'Dasavatharam' which refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu in Hindu mythology and later over its content showing a clash between the two Hindu sects of Vaishnavites and Shaivites in the 12th century. Kamal's plot in this film takes off from this point and zeroes in on modern times, touching on sensitive issues.

But the film, made in box office oriented commercial format, comments on contemporary issues like the dawn of biosynthetic weapon and packs action, humour and romance, as Kamal himself revealed the plot in a nutshell recently.

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